A purple pup's story

Animal Control seeks home for victim and clues to who abused animal.

Animal Control seeks home for victim and clues to who abused animal.

February 18, 2006|JAMIE LOO Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Badly injured with legs, shoulders and chest spray-painted purple, Elmo was lucky to find help that Saturday. Megan Ballog, 14, and Kelly Long, 11, would become his heroes. It was a mild, winter day on Jan. 28th. Temperatures in the 50s drove the sisters into the backyard of their Nash Street home. They planned to jump on an old mattress, which was propped up against the garage. They found Elmo hiding behind it. "I thought it was dead because he was laying down," Kelly said. The children approached Elmo and even though he couldn't talk, they could see he needed help. He had a deep gash across his neck. "His bones were all showing in his neck, and he was scratching his neck, and it was nasty," Megan said. When South Bend Animal Control officer Devin Brubaker arrived at the scene, the puppy was calm and the children were holding onto him. Elmo still wasn't talking about what happened to him, because he couldn't. "He had a laceration on the bottom of his throat," Brubaker said. Sometimes when an animal is found in such a condition, it's because they've outgrown their collar and are being choked by it, Brubaker said. He was unprepared to find this puppy with an intentionally slit throat. And purple. Elmo's front legs, shoulders and part of his chest had been spray painted. The dog was taken to Western Veterinary Clinic. Veterinarian Chris Persing said Elmo's laceration was from "ear to ear," and from his observations, Elmo had the injury for at least a week. The wound also was infected. "I think that little dog was terrorized," Persing said. Brubaker said Elmo, whom animal control officers believe to be 5 to 7 months old and a chow and Shar-Pei mix, is recovering well. Elmo let out his first few barks again on Friday and the paint is beginning to come off. Elmo has had two surgeries and still has a bandage wrapped around his neck. Persing said he expects Elmo to be fully recovered in a week. Animal Control is collecting donations for Elmo's treatment, which cost about $600. Brubaker said Animal Control is investigating the abuse. There aren't many clues except for traces of purple spray paint in the alley where Elmo was found. Although it's clear that Elmo was harmed intentionally, Brubaker said it's hard to tell if this was a random act of abuse or carried out by a chronic abuser. Animal Control is looking for any witnesses or people who can provide details about the identity of Elmo's abuser or abusers. Kelly and Megan hope people come forward to help in the investigation. "I hope all those bad people who would do this to some poor animal would be punished for it," Kelly said. Persing said Elmo was a very lucky dog. From the moment Elmo arrived at the clinic, he has been a nice dog who just wants "to be pet and loved on," Persing said. "It's just a miracle itself it (weapon) didn't hit a major vessel ... like his jugular or windpipe," Persing said. Elmo is a "very sweet and playful dog," who loves children. Compared to other abused animals he has worked with, Brubaker said Elmo has recovered well physically and emotionally. Brubaker said Animal Control hopes someone will adopt Elmo. "His temperament is great considering everything he has been through," Brubaker said. The dog's playful disposition is reflected in his name, Elmo. Animal control staff named him Elmo because they thought he resembled a Muppet, Brubaker said. When a reporter told the girls Friday that Elmo survived and was up for adoption they looked at each other, screeched and hugged. "I was really scared for him. We really didn't think he was going to make it," Megan said. "I hope someone really, really good gets him because he deserves it." Tribune staff writer Gwen O'Brien contributed to this report. Staff writer Jamie Loo: jloo@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6337